Sash balance



June 21, 1949. VIEHWEGER 2,473,666

SASH BALANCE Filed Jan. 23, 1946 INVENTOR. AU7UJL V/ZZ/M/a/er Fa/MM ATTORNEY- Patented June 21, 1949 .U 1T,1 1 STATES;7'..PATENTEOFFICE 2.473s sasn BALANCE August Viehweger, Comsto'ck Park, Mich., as-

signor to Grand RapidsHardware Company, Grand Rapids,.Mich., a corporation-of Michigan Application Jannary 23,1 46, erial 'No. 642.845 7 balances.

Y The main objects of this invention are:

-- First, to provide a sash balance of the type embodying-a-tubular element having a spiral track .which may be formed of comparatively light stock and at the same time is very'rigid and not likely to spring or become distorted in use. Secnd, to provide a sash balance of this type 1 in which the tubular element with the associated n anchoring and spring adjusting means constilThis invention relates to improvements in sash I l. tion -.6 of the .strip' has ahead-like rib- 1 formed tutes an effective lubricant chamber so that the a;

' providing anefiective protection for the parts.

a Objects relatingto details and economies of the on the edge thereof, this preferably being of inthe length of the" tubular ele- The strip .hasaa iirt-s therein of substan- ':.-tially the thickness of the metal, as shown in Fig. 101:

2,..this resulting in aan-;,outer shoulder 9 and an inner shoulder Ill. The overlapping ribbed'edge of; the strip ;is ;arranged with its edge abutting the outer shoulder 9, as shown in; Fig. 2,'while; the

' underlying inneredge Jl of the strip is in abutinvention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out I .in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

- which:

1 is a fragmentary elevation-of a window j and its associated casing with a sash balance embodying my invention installed therein, the wini dew and casing being conventionally illustrated.

- Fig. .2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of my "sash balance partially in longitudinal section on i line 22 of Figs. 1 and 3.

member.

.. Fig. 5.is an enlarged fragmentary view online 5-5 of Fig. 6 of a slightly modified form or embodiment of my invention, the modification being in the form of the spiral track or flight.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view ting engagement with the inner shoulder Ill.

' wound in close contact not only to make a closed joint butalso to prevent ,relative movement.

The tubular element thus ,iormed is very rigid in proportion to thestook used and this prevents springing and consequent binding and distortion pe eaw e heru t r sie u t ca e ly i stalled.

The coiled torsion s ring i2" is housed within the tube and one end is 'clutchingly engaged with he p n-l keipq ien 9f. .ihe n h d W "This anchoring rod is "provided with anear l5 a receiving the pivot 16 carried by the attaching bracket l1, the att achingbracket in this embodiment being attachd tothe bottom o f the sash as by meansof screws IS. The other end of the I spring is engaged with the reduced end) of the "torsion rod 20 rotatable within the tubular eleof the tubular element of the embodiment shown i. y

in Fig. .5-

In the accompanying drawing, i represents av Windowoasing and 2 a window sash having a channel or groove 3 adapted to receivethesash It will be understood that commonly balance. there is a sash balance at each edge of the sash.

, single strip or ribbon 5. desirably of relativelythin steel,l'this strip being spirally .wound upon itself with the convolutions thereof overlapping sub- I stantially one-half the width of the strip.- 7

. .In practice the tubular element is cut in proper "lengths. from a tube formed as described of a strip spirally wound upon itself'with the convolutioiisv overlapping preferably substantially onement and provided with ratchet teeth 2| coacting with the ratchet22 fixedly secured to] the tubular element as by the indentation 23, see Fig. 2.

The torsion rod extends or projects into the ratchet member 2| and is slotted at 24 to receive an adjusting tool. In the embodiment illustrated,

. indentation25. In this embodiment, the spring .serves to urge theratchet teeth together.

The rod 26 preferably oiwood-or fiberisarranged withinthespring to prevent kinking and clicking -of-thecoils...

The anchoring means and theadjusting means described serve as closures for the-end ofthe tubular member so -that it --ma-y- -be filled with This minimizes noise as well as to protect the interior parts.

The torsion element designated generally by the numeral 21 comprises the annular member 28 slidably receiving the tubular member and the attaching arm 29 which has slots 30 therein receiving the ends 3| of the element 28, the ends being retained by turningthem laterally at 32, see Fig.3. The arm portion of the torsion member is provided with an angularly disposed offset 33 between the slots 30, this offset providing a recess 34 receiving the spiral flight or track 1.

By thus forming the torsion member, it may be formed of light stock and is well adapted to receive the stresses of operation, the annular member mainly performing the functionof slidably receiving the tubular member and holding it with its flight in effective engagement with the recess.

The embodiment shown in Fig. is the-same as that described except that the bead-like rib 35 is of V-section instead of rounded section and the recess 36 in the torsion member is correspondingly shaped.

I have not illustrated other shapes of ribs 4 which I contemplate and certain other modifications as it is believed that this discloslure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as maybe desired.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a sash balance, the combination. of a tubular element formed of a strip of metal of substantial width spirally wound upon itself with 1 the convolutions thereof overlapping substantially one-half the width of the strip, the overlyin portion of the strip having an outwardly projecting bead-like rib of inwardly facing curved channel section on its edge providing a rounded spiral flight, the strip having a central offset of substantially the thickness of the strip providing spiral outer and inner shoulders, the overlapping ribbed edge of the strip abutting the outer shoulder and the underlying edge of the strip abutting the inner shoulder of the superimposed convolutions, a spring housed within said tubular element and connected thereto at one end, anchoring means for the other end of the spring, and a torsion element comprising an annular member slidably receiving the tubular element and an attaching arm having a recess slidably engaging said spiral track.

2. In a sash balance, the combination of a tubular element formed of a strip of metal of substantial width spirally wound upon itself with the convolutions thereof overlapping substantially one-half the width of the strip, the overlying portion of the strip having an outwardly projecting rib on, its edge providing a spiral flight, the strip having a central offset of substantially the thickness of the strip providing spiral outer and inner shoulders, the overlapping ribbed edge of the strip abutting the outer shoulder and the underlying edge of the strip abutting the inner shoulder of r strip with the convolutions-thereof overlapping substantially one-half the width of the strip, the overlying edgeof thestrip havingan outwardly offset rib providinga spiral flightthe underlying portion of the strip being inwardly folded and offset substantially the thickness of the strip whereby the wall of the tubular element is of substantially uniform diameter from end to end with the spiral flight projecting therefrom, the superimposed convolutions being in closely embracing relation whereby the tubular element is adapted ,to retain lubricant, a spring housed within said tubular element, an anchoring means for one end of said spring constituting a closure for that end of said tubular element, adjustable means for connecting the other end of the tubular element to the spring constituting a closure for that end of said tubular element whereby the tubular element is adapted to contain a lubricant, and a torsion element slidably receiving said tubular element and provided with a flight engaging means.

4. A sash balance comprising an axially rotatable tubular element formed of a spirally wound strip with the convolutions thereof overlapping substantially one-half the width of the strip, the overlying edge ofthe strip having an outwardly offset rib providing a spiral flight, the underlying portion of the strip being inwardly folded and offset substantially the thickness of the strip whereby the wall of the tubular element is of substantially uniform diameter from end to end with the spiral flight projecting therefrom, a 30spring housed within said tubular element, an

anchoring means for one end of said spring, adjustable means for connecting the other end of the tubular element to the spring, and a torsion element slidably receiving said tubular element and provided with a flight engaging means.

5. A tubular element for sash balances formed of a strip of metal of substantial width spirally wound upon itself with the convolutions thereof overlapping substantially one-half the width of the strip, the overlying portion of the strip having an outwardly projecting bead-like rib of inwardly facing curved channel section on its edge, the strip having a central offset of substantially the thickness of the strip providing spiral outer and inner shoulders, the overlapping ribbed edge of the strip abutting the outer shoulders and the underlying edge of the strip abutting the inner shoulder of the superimposed convolutions.

6. A, tubular element for sash balances formed of a strip of metal of substantial width spirally wound upon itself with the convolutions thereof overlappin substantially one-half the width of the strip, the overlying portion of the strip having an outwardly projecting rib on its edge, the I strip having a central offset of substantially the thickness of the strip providing spiral outer and inner shoulders, the overlapping ribbededge of the strip abutting the outer shoulder and the underlying edge of the strip abutting the inner 60 shoulder of the superimposed convolutions.

7. A tubular element for sash balances formed of a strip of metal of substantial width. spirally wound upon itself with the convolutions thereof overlappin substantially one-half the width of 05 the strip, the overlying portion of the strip having an outwardly projecting rib of inwardly facing Hcurved channel section on its edge, the underlying portion of the strip being inwardly folded and offset substantially the thickness of the strip.

8. A sash balance comprising a tubular element for said balances formed of a spirally wound strip with the convolutions thereof overlapping substantially one-half the width of the strip, the overlying edge of the strip having an outwardly ,76 ofiset rib providing a'splral flight, the underlying 5 portion of the strip being inwardly folded and offset substantially the thickness of the strip whereby the wall of the tubular element is of substantially uniform diameter from end to end with the spiral flight projecting therefrom.

AUGUST VIEHWEGER.

6 REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,229,148 Viehweger Jan. 21, 1941 2,398,456 Viehweger Apr. 16, 1946 

